Check out the Steam Machine prototype and its many controllers

Before Valve settled on this controller for the Steam Machine, there were many, many prototypes to choose from. Newly released images via The Seattle Times, provide a first look at Valve's Steam Machine prototype — a high-end machine that will be shipped to 300 beta testers later this year — along with the numerous prototype controllers. Although the final controller certainly has a unique design, some of the prototypes are even wackier-looking.

If you happen to be one of the lucky ones chosen for beta testing, you'll get prototype Steam Machine alongside the unique controller for testing this fall.

The rest of us, according to The Seattle Times, should expect to see a variety of different Steam Machines announced at CES in January. The Steam Machine is expected to hit the market in mid-2014.